AP PHOTOS: A rockin' Olympics opening ceremonyAP PHOTOS: Summer Games get off to rockin' start with musically, visually extravagant opening
By The Associated Press

Fighter jets trailing red, white and blue smoke, a pulsating soundtrack that included snippets from Beatles songs and giant puppets from "Harry Potter" all came together during opening ceremonies for the London Olympics on Friday.

Oscar winner Danny Boyle's $42 million show, with 15,000 volunteers, was a rich and textured journey through British history. Boyle drew from Shakespeare, British pop culture, literature and music, and other sources of inspiration that speak to not just Anglophiles but people across the globe.